Having impressed at this year’s Cannes International Film Festival, CarolĀ (2015) made its way to the big screen at the end of 2015 with the possibility of Academy Award greatness on the cards. The story is an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s The Price Of Salt, which was written in 1952 under the pseudonym, Clair Morgan, due to the lesbian content.
Starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, it’s a beautifully shot tale of forbidden love in 1950s New York that draws attention to injustice of the legal structures of the past, which were present at the time the book was written. Check out the trailer below to get a glimpse of the impressive performances and the attention to detail in recreating the period style for the film.
Release date
Cinema: Following its premier at Cannes on the 17th May 2015, Carol had a UK release date on Friday the 27th November 2015, which saw it going up against two other award contenders,Ā Bridge Of SpiesĀ and Black Mass. It made its way to US cinemas for a limited release on the 20th November 2015, so you may have needed to drive your Buick a little way down the highway to catch it, or something along those lines.
DVD, Blu-ray and digital download: With rave reviews and six Academy Award nominations it will be an eagerly anticipated DVD, Blu-ray and digital download release when it arrives in the UK on the 21st March 2016. It will also be available in the US with a release date of the 4th March 2016. Special features include a Behind the Scenes Gallery featuring the cast and crew, and a Q&A feature with the cast and director.
Story
The plot revolves around a relationship that begins between Carol Aird (Blanchett), a sophisticated and wealthy mother going through an ugly divorce, and Therese Belivet (Mara), a lonely younger woman working in a toy store. The two meet when Carol is shopping for a gift for her daughter Rindy in the New York department store that Therese works in and they quickly become friends and lovers.
However, the situation is used as leverage by Carol’s husband Harge in his custody battle for their daughter as emotions get frayed and the story of burgeoning love gets tainted by more bitter sentiment. It’s added to by Therese’s boyfriend Richard, who has also become suspicious about the relationship, making for a difficult situation for the newfound lovers.
Cast
In addition to Cate Blanchett (The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies) and Rooney Mara (Pan), the cast of Carol (2015) includes Sarah Paulson (12 Years A Slave) as Carol’s former lover Abby. Kyle Chandler (Super 8) plays husband Harge, Jake Lacy (The Office) stars as Therese’s boyfriend Richard and Cory Michael Smith (Gotham) takes on the role of private investigator Tommy.
Mara has already won the Cannes International Film Festival 2015 Best Actress award for her performance in the film and we’ll be surprised if she and Blanchett don’t go on to pick up a fair few more award nominations over the coming months.
Production
The film has been adapted by Phyllis Nagy (Mrs. Harris) with Todd Haynes (The Velvet Goldmine) in the directors chair and Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley and Christine Vachon down as producers. Edward Lachman was the director of photography, having worked with Haynes previously on Far From Heaven and Carter Burwell (Hail, Caesar!) has composed the music for the movie.
First impressions
With a nomination in the Palme d’Or at Cannes earlier in 2015, Roony Mara’s Best Actress award and a lot of positive reviews already in the bag, Carol is shaping up to be one of the winter’s must-see releases. The trailer below looks stunning and the dramatic tension and romance is palpable, so we’re expecting a very impressive release with exceptional performances from Mara and Blanchett.
